Need Help Incorporating Hollywood with DLR

[tylerandalexsmom]

We are WDW vets, first time DLR. I have been to CA a few times (mostly SanDiego, with one trip to Beverly Hills & Santa Barbara), and my DS has been to San Diego a few times, but this is DD's first trip anywhere west of the Mississippi. So while we are on the trip, I want to incorporate some of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood sights! I really don't want to rent a car (want to sit back and let someone else worry about getting us there so I don't stress over getting lost in LA ) So I am thinking of flying in a day earlier and staying in the Beverly Hills or Hollywood area overnight, and then going to Union Station and taking the train to DLR (kids LOVE trains, and I love the architecture, so thought we'd enjoy the trip) the next day (and then spending the rest of that afternoon evening exploring the DL hotel and Downtown Disney before hitting the parks the following day).

I want to take the kids to see Rodeo Drive (just for window shopping and photo ops!) and Graumans, Walk of Fame, Hollywood sign, Disney soda fountain, and maybe La Brea tarpits. (I'd also like to see the Beverly Hills Hotel, and maybe the Hollywood Roosevelt, but that might be too much for the kids, and stuff they'd be less interested in)

I keep dreaming of a night at the Beverly Wilshire -- I stayed there on a trip I earned (I wasn't paying!) and would love to go back! And then we could see Rodeo Drive from there, but would have to take a taxi to everything else, including Union Station..... And I don't know if the specialness of it would be lost on the kids at ages 13 (14 at the time) and 7. So, I'm wondering if the Hollywood Hotel at Hollywood and Highland would be better (seems to be closer to the majority of what we want to see) and then just take a taxi to Rodeo Drive.

I need help on the best way to fit everything in (the order to do things in, and still have a little hotel/pool time, without feeling like we never got to enjoy our hotel, especially if I'm going to shell out the $ for a hotel like the Beverly Wilshire!), and advice on hotels/locations. (Personally, from what I've been able to see online on the Hollywood Hotel, I don't seem to like it as well, atmosphere/personality-wise, but it is closer and less expensive). I have a bad habbit of trying to fit too much in, so I want to make sure we can do all these things (most of them, other than the tarpits museum, I think would just be stroll around at look/take pictures). So, advice on how (and what) to do it and where to stay would be greatly appreciated!!

Oh, and if it makes a difference, we would be there at Christmas, and it would just be the kids and I (hubby not going, so want to make sure we aren't in any areas that are too scary without a man along....) Also, any suggestions for fun places "must dos" to grab a bite to eat while we are out sight seeing? (not too terribly expensive -- side walk cafes, fun atmosphere, etc.)

 

[mbw12]

just subscribing to see the responses. We too are in the planning stages of a DLR trip along with LA

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

We are WDW vets, first time DLR. I have been to CA a few times (mostly SanDiego, with one trip to Beverly Hills & Santa Barbara), and my DS has been to San Diego a few times, but this is DD's first trip anywhere west of the Mississippi. So while we are on the trip, I want to incorporate some of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood sights! I really don't want to rent a car (want to sit back and let someone else worry about getting us there so I don't stress over getting lost in LA ) So I am thinking of flying in a day earlier and staying in the Beverly Hills or Hollywood area overnight, and then going to Union Station and taking the train to DLR (kids LOVE trains, and I love the architecture, so thought we'd enjoy the trip) the next day (and then spending the rest of that afternoon evening exploring the DL hotel and Downtown Disney before hitting the parks the following day).

I want to take the kids to see Rodeo Drive (just for window shopping and photo ops!) and Graumans, Walk of Fame, Hollywood sign, Disney soda fountain, and maybe La Brea tarpits. (I'd also like to see the Beverly Hills Hotel, and maybe the Hollywood Roosevelt, but that might be too much for the kids, and stuff they'd be less interested in)

I keep dreaming of a night at the Beverly Wilshire -- I stayed there on a trip I earned (I wasn't paying!) and would love to go back! And then we could see Rodeo Drive from there, but would have to take a taxi to everything else, including Union Station..... And I don't know if the specialness of it would be lost on the kids at ages 13 (14 at the time) and 7. So, I'm wondering if the Hollywood Hotel at Hollywood and Highland would be better (seems to be closer to the majority of what we want to see) and then just take a taxi to Rodeo Drive.

I need help on the best way to fit everything in (the order to do things in, and still have a little hotel/pool time, without feeling like we never got to enjoy our hotel, especially if I'm going to shell out the $ for a hotel like the Beverly Wilshire!), and advice on hotels/locations. (Personally, from what I've been able to see online on the Hollywood Hotel, I don't seem to like it as well, atmosphere/personality-wise, but it is closer and less expensive). I have a bad habbit of trying to fit too much in, so I want to make sure we can do all these things (most of them, other than the tarpits museum, I think would just be stroll around at look/take pictures). So, advice on how (and what) to do it and where to stay would be greatly appreciated!!

Oh, and if it makes a difference, we would be there at Christmas, and it would just be the kids and I (hubby not going, so want to make sure we aren't in any areas that are too scary without a man along....) Also, any suggestions for fun places "must dos" to grab a bite to eat while we are out sight seeing? (not too terribly expensive -- side walk cafes, fun atmosphere, etc.)

I would stay at the Magic Castle Hotel. Very small hotel, I think it was voted best customer service in California. If you book early enough, I believe the lowest cost of a room will be about high $70s a night. The next tier up is about $120 (with a AAA discount). This place is so amazing, when you check in they give you a list that covers an entire piece of paper with absolutely free drink and snack choices. You can have as much as you want and they will even bring them to your room. I am talking brand name sodas and full size candy bars/chips and other things I can't remember.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...agic_Castle_Hotel-Los_Angeles_California.html

That is their link on Trip Advisor. The pool area is a little small, but was very clean and well maintained. The rooms were also clean and the beds were awesome. Also, when we arrived they asked where we planned on heading and a woman in the backroom marked up a map for us. We also had a lot of coupons for local attractions in our room.

The hotel is about a block's walk away from Madame Tussaud's (I highly recommend, there are tons of celebrities/athletes and you can pose with them and have your picture taken). If you do Madame Tussaud's, pre buying tickets online is much cheaper.

Right next to Madame Tussaud's is Grauman's. This is the theater that has all the handprints right out front. The only thing to worry about here, street factor wise, is the fact that there are a lot of costumed people who will offer to take pictures with your kids. They won't say there is a charge, but they expect a donation. There were some pretty sweet costumes, like Bumblebee from Transformers, and its perfectly fine to get your pic with them, just be aware they do expect tips. We paid to take a theater tour, you get to go inside the old women's washroom (its amazing) and actually go inside the one screen and look around. Its pretty nice but somewhat expensive, and you can still look around the outside without paying. Another fun thing to do is to take pictures of your kid's putting their hands/feet in their favorite star's prints.

You'll probably have already noticed by this time that the sidewalk you have been using has all the celebrities' stars. The walk of fame stretches for a long way either direction and on both sides of the streets. Another fun thing is to hunt for your favorite celebrity and get your picture with the star. I believe you can even google it and find out the address of your favorites.

Almost directly across from Grauman's is Disney's El Capitan theatre. This is another old fashioned theatre in the vein of Grauman's. If you have time watch the latest Disney release here, they have a special pre show sometimes and all the ushers dress up.

Right next to El Capitan is the Disney Soda Shop. Its not really busy unless a movie has just let out, so if you see a line catch it in on the walk back.

If you head a few blocks farther down, Mel's Diner might be a nice place to eat. Its relatively cheap diner food and its in a safe location.

There is a parking garage structure near Grauman's that you can go up to the 4th (?) floor and get a pretty good view of the Hollywood sign. You cannot get That close to the sign, as it is on private property.

I believe the Roosevelt hotel is right there as well, if you want to stop by.

You will probably need to take a bus or taxi to La bre tar pits. On the way, I highly suggest stopping at Pink's hot dog stand. A lot of celebrities eat there, and its a real fun little stand that has a lot of differently themed hot dogs (I had the Lord of the Rings dog, a hot dog with barbecue sauce and onion rings). Once again its not too expensive, I would recommend going at an off eating hour because the line can get quite long (it moves fast though, the line wrapped twice around the queue but I still had my food with 15 minutes).

The tar pits are ok. I don't mean to dampen your enthusiasm, it is fun to see once but I most likely wouldn't go again. You can walk around outside and see the big tar lake with the Mastadon statues, then keep walking and see the smaller tar pits. They are doing an excavation that is ongoing daily, so you might be able to see/talk to them.

I have never been to Rodeo drive so I have no real advice on that.

As for scheduling, I would start out at the hotel then do all the things I mentioned since they are in the same area and real close to each other, this area can also get a bit crowded in the afternoon. Maybe after that you can walk back to the hotel and take a break and swim. I am sure Magic Castle will help you out with a taxi, then you could go off to the tar pits/rodeo drive (or do the tar pits/Pink's before the break, whichever way you wanna do it).

Let me know if you have any more specific questions, I was just there

 

[GrandBob]

The only thing to worry about here, street factor wise, is the fact that there are a lot of costumed people who will offer to take pictures with your kids. They won't say there is a charge, but they expect a donation. There were some pretty sweet costumes, like Bumblebee from Transformers, and its perfectly fine to get your pic with them, just be aware they do expect tips.

This can be so much fun if you get into it. And they don't expect much in the way of tips. I discovered that $1 will do. When we were there with our DGD, I gave $1 to the first character, but it wasn't one that I or DGD was interested in. The next one was a pirate, dressed up like Jack Sparrow, and he had all his own gear for the customers - swords, pistols, hats, etc. I had a ball taking pictures of DW and DGD in those costumes. So I gave the guy a $5. He looked at it, blinked, and looked again. Then he said "oh, we've got to take more pictures!" He dressed me up with a pirate hat and pistol as well, and we got pictures of all of us. It was so much fun! And I discovered that $5 is considered a WOW tip.

-Bob

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

This can be so much fun if you get into it. And they don't expect much in the way of tips. I discovered that $1 will do. When we were there with our DGD, I gave $1 to the first character, but it wasn't one that I or DGD was interested in. The next one was a pirate, dressed up like Jack Sparrow, and he had all his own gear for the customers - swords, pistols, hats, etc. I had a ball taking pictures of DW and DGD in those costumes. So I gave the guy a $5. He looked at it, blinked, and looked again. Then he said "oh, we've got to take more pictures!" He dressed me up with a pirate hat and pistol as well, and we got pictures of all of us. It was so much fun! And I discovered that $5 is considered a WOW tip.

-Bob

Aww I did not know that. I figured they would want more than a dollar, or I definitely would have wanted my picture with that sweet Bumblebee.